New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-31
CAPTALN JOHN ERICSSONS BIRTHDAY.

HE Is TOO BUSY TO HAVE ANY CELEBRATION, But
HIS FRIENDS WILL NOT FORGET HIM.
Captain John Ericsson will celebrate his eighty
fourth birthday to-day. He Is too busy to heed
. matter 90 trHing as the recurrence OF birthday
but there will be many throughout the country and
abroad who will not forget it. Yesterday he received
a congrstulstory telegram froM Swollen lie will re-
oeve many day. Several people will call upon him
to present their congratulations and few perhsp
will enjoy the rare privilege Of conversation with him
But Captain Ericsson will lot nothing deter him from
accomplishing o hard days work. He has lived in
New-York forty-eight years, and during that whole
period be has not single occasion gone into the
country for recreation Be the weather hot cool IL
makes no difference tv him. He works with just as
mucn steady persstenoy la summer as In winter.
During the last few weeks when lame ,tatons and
com plants about the weather from all sources have
swelled into Q mighty volume, Captain Ericsson has
pursued the even OF his busy way. utterly
CARELESS of the weather and apparently not at all
affected by IT, though much Of the time he works lear
huge gas jet representing consumption OF eight OF
nine feet an hour. Az human machine Captain
Ericsson Is quite marvellous any OF his thousand
and one mechanical devices This is the only of
his wonderfni capacity for work De Il regular in hs
habits, temperste and sbsemious but 80 are thou
worked % no does. He eats haiti a loaf OF brown
bread for breakfast. This will afford some gTaifcs-
ton to certain food reformers," who Will attribute
ali bis activity In OLD age TO IT, But then he al" avs
drinks two cups of tea tor breakfast. aud tea Is not
beverage that finds much favor with food reform
ers"
Although Captain lives almost the life of Q recuse,
he keeps himself well Informed concerning all the
important things that arc going in the busy world
around HIM. He takes several morning papers and
weekly aad monthly publications. beside, numerous
scientific Journals published here and abroad 1t 10
his habit to read after breakat 10 the afternoon he
does GOOD deal OF writing Most OF his hardest work
1. done the evening whom be hnde himself at his
best. THE TKiRU~E reporter was informed that ne
10 az present engaged what be regards a. the moss
important mechanical work OF he lite. besides con-
Quoting investigations concerning the dattermauey
OF the terrestrial atmosphere, subject Intimately
connected with the success Of his sun motor. The
reporter wa. told that The OF the mechanical
~ork upon which Captain Ericsson is engaged 10 at
piesent keot Q secret rhs much only could DO
learned about IL, It Is something thar admits Of vide
application. and Is something that will do work
chea per than mechanism at present devised.
The ouly difference which advancing years seem 70
make In Captain Ericsson Is that no tuds that lie
requires less exercise than OF vote TO preservs sn
vigorous health And this means more time to devole
TO his work. Work 10 his vito aud faulty tie loves
It, hence his unstiuted devotion TO It. To-day every
body will heartily wish him May happy returns
Of the day. and hope that the work no Is now engaged
In, whatever 1t may be- Will DO crowned with success